Balinese ecologists to offer local wisdom during climate meeting

Ary Hermawan, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

A coalition of Balinese ecological activists and spiritual leaders will use the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCC) on Bali in December as an opportunity to call for the revival and implementation of forgotten traditional wisdom to slow down global warming.

"Human beings must give mother nature time to recover after being exploited excessively for such a long time," I Nyoman Sadra of the Wisnu Foundation said on the sidelines of a seminar on climate change Thursday. "We are calling for an international day of silence during which people around the world stop their activities and let mother nature rest," he added.

The foundation has collaborated with the Bali Center for Environmental Education (PPLH), the Bali chapter of Walhi Indonesian Forum for the Environment and the Bali Organic Association.

"We call ourselves the Bali Climate Change Collaboration," PPLH director Catur Yudha Hariani said, adding the coalition expected all Balinese people to join the coalition.

Catur said Balinese people, as hosts of the conference, are eager to take part in the global effort to cope with climate change through promoting the spirit of Nyepi; the Balinese-Hindu day of silence. During the annual religious event, Balinese-Hindus refrain from working, lighting fires, enjoying any form of entertainment and traveling.

"We are attempting to take the essence of the Nyepi ritual and make it a global movement," she said.

She added the coalition tried to lobby the conference's committee in order to be able to participate in the international assembly, hoping 10 representatives of the group could get approval.

"We have no intention of spreading Balinese-Hindu teachings. What matters is the essence. We want the world to rest, which would have a considerable impact in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," she said.

Hindu high priest Ida Pedanda Gde Ketut Sebali Tianyar Arimbawa said the practice of Nyepi -- apart from its theological background -- was not exclusively followed by Balinese-Hindus.

"It is practiced by many religious communities," he said.

Before becoming Indonesia's first tourism destination, Bali's idyllic landscape and pristine nature had long been protected and preserved by the traditional beliefs held by Balinese ancestors. Balinese-Hindu teachings emphasize love and respect for nature as a way to maintain the equilibrium of a sustainable life, Sadra said.

Tenganan is the only village on the island that still firmly upholds the traditional wisdom of preservation of nature. The lifestyle of Tenganan villagers has been strictly regulated according to awig-awig customary laws, which have abided by for many centuries. The laws and the villagers' deference to them have remained largely unchanged since the 11th century.

Every resident of Tenganan village is obliged to preserve and protect the centuries-old rules in order to maintain their traditions. "We are glad that our environment is still well preserved," said Sadra, who is the former Tenganan village head and now regarded as one of its respected figures.

The villagers are prohibited from cutting down live trees without the permission of the village head and only dead trees can be felled. Villagers are also not allowed to sell or lease their land.

"We refuse the pleasures (of exploiting nature) that discount conscience," he said.

Bali is currently facing serious environmental problems with eroding beaches, deteriorating air quality and a declining greenbelt. As it now hopes for more investment to boost tourism, Bali authorities often overlook precious traditional wisdom for the sake of economic growth.

Hira Jamtani, an eco-feminist who now lives on Bali, said the government should begin promoting and implementing eco-friendly development.

"Efforts to reduce greenhouse gases must not forsake the poor. We must preserve their right to access energy. What we need to do is push for a change in our development paradigm and develop the technology of renewable energy," she said.

Around 10,000 representatives from 180 countries will participate in the December climate change meeting, with the aim to reach a global consensus on global warming.

Conflicting interests have long deadlocked international talks on global warming, while the damaging effects continue to cause negative impacts in many parts of the world.